Dec. 18, 2019 — In a message sent to faculty and staff today President Taylor Eighmy provided updates on the presidential, strategic, tactical and academic initiatives underway to support the university’s strategic vision.
At the recommendation of the Classroom to Career Task Force, the UTSA quality enhancement plan, which is a requirement for SACSCOC, reflects a strategic and integrated approach to the development of student’s marketable skills and career readiness through experiential learning. UTSA’s QEP will address gaps in opportunities available to students, provide resources to faculty to lead and enhance experiential learning and assist students in articulating the marketable skills gained from participating in experiential learning opportunities. Specifically, internships, undergraduate research, and community engaged learning will be enhanced. This builds on the Classroom to Career Initiative that focuses on career engaged learning, expanding experiential learning on campus and creating career ready graduates.
The Office of the Vice President for Research, Economic Development and Knowledge Enterprise held a strategic planning kick-off meeting to identify pathways for UTSA's next research strategic plan titled “Accelerate 2030.” Subcommittees were established and will begin hosting stakeholder focus groups in January and February 2020. In pursuit of the National Research University Fund, the Graduate School completed external peer reviews of UTSA graduate programs, preparing for their assessment by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board in 2020.
The Office of the Vice President for Inclusive Excellence has engaged the Center for Strategic Diversity Leadership & Social Innovation to conduct an institutional diversity program inventory and assessment. In addition, the VPIE will be hosting its first Inclusive Excellence Leadership Symposium February 24-26, 2020. This symposium is a learning, training and professional development event that will offer sessions tailored for faculty, staff and students. Dr. Damon A. Williams, a renowned leader and scholar in the inclusive excellence field, will be the speaker and trainer for this event. Registration will open in January 2020. Visit the Symposium’s website for more details.
National Security Collaboration Center and School of Data Science
UTSA faculty developed and incorporated artificial intelligence lessons into courses this semester spanning across marketing, geological sciences, psychology, biology and computer science as part of UTSA’s Generation AI Nexus program. The program is a collaboration with the MITRE Corporation, one of UTSA’s National Security Collaboration Center partners. An initial round of candidate reviews were conducted by the search committee for the School of Data Science Academic Director and Chief Data Strategist positions. Three candidates for the Academic Director and five candidates for the Chief Data Strategist have been selected for first round of Skype Interviews to be held on December 19-20, 2019. The SDS is also working with the Honor’s College and Graduate School to develop a 5-year combined BS and MS program in data science that cuts across business, engineering and science.
College for Health, Community and Policy
The soon-to-launch College for Health, Community and Policy (HCaP) held two community charrettes in November and December. At these events, more than 70 community members participated in facilitated small-group discussions on how HCaP can best align its workforce development, research/scholarship, engaged learning and service efforts to address issues of importance to the San Antonio community. Participants represented a broad variety of community organizations, businesses and governing bodies working at the intersection of health, community and policy.
San Antonio Workforce Initiative
The San Antonio Workforce task force met for the second time to discuss various strategies for building credit and non-credit programs that will align with various internal and external partners across the city. Strategies include building relationships with the business community, identifying future workforce needs and creating educational pathways and lifelong learning opportunities.
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The Secular Student Alliance is proud to present guest speaker Dave Troiano, Board Secretary for the Greater Houston Chapter Americans United for Separation of Church and State. This event will emphasize how reproductive health care is intertwined with separation of church and state.
Student Union, Willow Room (2.02.12), Main CampusThis event will acknowledge graduating seniors from the McNair Scholars program at UTSA before inducting the new cohort of scholars into the program.
North Paseo Building (NPB 5.140), Main CampusAt this memorable celebration, UTSA graduates will be introduced one-by-one to cross the stage and accept their doctoral degrees.
Arts Building Recital Hall, Main CampusRoadrunner Walk is an event for graduating students to have a memorable walk on campus to celebrate an important milestone and their achievements. Graduates will walk along the Paseo while being celebrated by the UTSA community, friends, and family members.
Student Union Paseo, Main CampusJoin us for a tribute to Willie Velásquez, honoring the legacy of Willie Velásquez, a pivotal figure in shaping the history of Latino and Hispanic participation in the American voting process. Delve into his life and contributions as a champion of Latino voting rights. Moderated by UTSA's Teresa Niño, the event will feature influential voices, including Jane Velásquez, María Antonietta Berriozábal, Dora Oliva, and Anthony Gonzales.
Buena Vista Building, Gregory Luna Room, Downtown CampusCelebrate the accomplishments of College of Education and Human Development, College for Health, Community and Policy, College of Sciences and University College.
Alamodome, 100 Montana St.Celebrate the accomplishments of Alvarez College of Business, College of Liberal and Fine Arts and Klesse College of Engineering and Integrated Design.
Alamodome, 100 Montana St.The University of Texas at San Antonio is dedicated to the advancement of knowledge through research and discovery, teaching and learning, community engagement and public service. As an institution of access and excellence, UTSA embraces multicultural traditions and serves as a center for intellectual and creative resources as well as a catalyst for socioeconomic development and the commercialization of intellectual property - for Texas, the nation and the world.
To be a premier public research university, providing access to educational excellence and preparing citizen leaders for the global environment.
We encourage an environment of dialogue and discovery, where integrity, excellence, inclusiveness, respect, collaboration and innovation are fostered.
UTSA is a proud Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) as designated by the U.S. Department of Education .
The University of Texas at San Antonio, a Hispanic Serving Institution situated in a global city that has been a crossroads of peoples and cultures for centuries, values diversity and inclusion in all aspects of university life. As an institution expressly founded to advance the education of Mexican Americans and other underserved communities, our university is committed to promoting access for all. UTSA, a premier public research university, fosters academic excellence through a community of dialogue, discovery and innovation that embraces the uniqueness of each voice.
